Audi Rs4 Avant

Audi RS 4 Avant

The figurehead of the very diverse A4 range, the Audi RS 4 Avant combines tremendous everyday usability with exceptional performance. One car that does it all.

The Exterior

Taking the basic A4 Avant (estate / station wagon) and breathing on it with fire, the Audi designers have added the usual design detailing typical of the RS performance sub-brand. This car looks purposeful standing still, with flared wheel arches and cooling air intakes placed either side of the honeycomb grille. It also gets a twin oval exhaust pipe and roof spoiler for the rear.

Although subtle by design, eagle-eyed bystanders will spot the bulging wheel arches, which are housing the 19” alloy wheels. 20” alloys are available as an option. Further pointers include distinctive front and rear bumpers and a lower stance on the road.

Let’s not forget though that this is an estate car. There’s ample room in the boot (trunk) for luggage and even more with the rear seats folded. The car majors on safety equipment which is extensive, and includes all the features you'd expect from this brand including a minimum of six airbags, electronic stability control and an eight-piston front brake system with steel brake discs. Ceramic discs can be added as an optional extra and are definitely worth the money.

The Interior

The levels of comfort are extremely high in the Audi RS 4. Not only is this car great for performance driving, it is also doubles as a sedate tourer on long journeys. Featuring the Audi ‘Drive Select’, in comfort mode the car feels more like a ‘normal’ station wagon. Switch to ‘dynamic’ and the whole car tightens up and gets going.

The seats and steering wheel are multi-adjustable to achieve a comfortable and supportive driving position.

The interior underscores the character of the RS 4 Avant. Standard features include RS sport seats, optionally with a honeycomb pattern; the flat-bottomed RS leather multifunction sport steering wheel and illuminated door sill trims, all of which feature the RS emblem. In the driver-focused Audi virtual cockpit, which again is standard, extra detail is added with RS-specific displays indicate the g-forces, tyre pressures and torque. Styling trim packages with aluminium and carbon fibre provide further scope for customisation. Order a new RS 4, perhaps to import from the UK to Kenya, New Zealand or other global destinations, and most special requests can be met by the German brand, meaning real personalisation is possible.

Driving The Audi RS 4 Avant

At the heart of this fine car is a V6 twin-turbo 2.9 litre TFSI engine delivering 444bhp and a massive peak torque of 600Nm. It stands to reason then that this Avant can sprint from 0 to 62mph in only 4.1 seconds, with a top speed of 155mph, where allowed. An optional dynamic package can increase this performance. Driving frugally, the RS 4 will return over thirty miles to every gallon.

Putting down all this power on the road calls for permanent all-wheel drive via an eight-speed tiptronic with optimised gear ratios. A worthwhile addition from the German company is a rear sport differential enabling torque division between the rear wheels for enhanced handling adjustment. On new cars ordered in the UK, this comes as standard; something of a bonus.

This car is epic. It is very fast and, under pressure, sounds good too. The auto DSG gearbox is smooth and the paddles located behind the steering wheel allow the driver to change gears briskly without letting go of the tactile steering wheel. Just because a piece of furniture needs moving, which can be done in this car, does not mean the driver cannot have some fun en route.

Reliability is not an issue. Early models from several years ago had some issues but these have all been resolved. The engine is modern and efficient. The Audi RS 4 Avant is a fine car with added practicality.